@daddyslackful6:35 "...all without altering mood or cognition." From wikipedia: Cognition.
"In science, cognition refers to mental processes. These processes include attention, remembering, producing and understanding language, solving problems, and making decisions."
Nothing in his experiments then demonstrated that oxytocin was "making" people give money or be more trusting -- rather the influx of oxytocin was correlated with increased rates of "trust." Posit: Trust became more rewarding.
@Jeffersonwazright I'm sorry if I don't understand your point, but are you trying to say that Happiness isn't something that we should distribute freely? If so... -__- wat.
@Vagitarian01 Correct. We have untrustworthy feelings for a reason. It is estimated that 4% of people are what we call "sociopaths" and our alarms need to go off when they are around. I am anti-war and pro-peace and pro-love and all of that utopian stuff but I don't think we should go changing our brain chemistry at any given moment.
@Jeffersonwazright I'm not sure what to consider myself... I am neither pro-war or pro-peace, in a general sense. I believe both have their merits. While I can fantasize with you on Utopia, I believe that such a reality will never come to pass. We're better off wishing for a world free of disease, or of hunger. Those things are lower on the wishlist than Peace, but are also, foolhardy goals. Good luck granting any of those wishes.
Oxytocin also promotes ethnocentrism. People are less trusting, less cohesive and less altruistic in more diverse cities. See Robert Putnam's studies on this. Mass immigration is a very bad idea.
In Japan they don't even lock up their bikes and stuff, people trust the society and feel invested in it. The US and Europe used to be more like that before unpopular mass immigration was thrust upon the population by a political elite. Who promised not to change the ethnic balance of our countries.
@AarontheCurious Ethnic groups do not steal bikes....poor people do. Your comment is silly and absurd. While I agree that they need to quit bringing foreign people in here and expecting it to work out great, your comment is absurd as a response to this particular video.
Homosexual activists understand the power of words.
Please visit my channel to watch a one-minute video clip in which popular atheist author Richard Dawkins admits that homosexual activists "hijacked the word 'gay'".
The word "homosexual" is more appropriate and accurate because it, unlike the word "gay", actually describes the behavior/attraction/relationship being discussed.
The word "gay" helps homosexual activists push their agenda.
I don't know if I agree that more oxytocin makes one more of less moral. I think there are a variety of factors that contribute to morality of which overall feelings of happiness or wellbeing are one. A person who believes his life or the life of his family is in danger or is afraid of losing their home may behave in an immoral way.
More oxytocin = greater degree of intimacy/physical contact between people = greater feelings of happiness. Generally that a happy person tries to be a moral one.
I'm wondering where my testosterone is at. I have very high empathy and I am very generous but I also feel inclined to punish those who trespass others and I have very masculine features. Hmmmm...
chemicals are the mere "material" cause for being able to act. other chemicals exist, when released, physical affection and laughter are experienced. these chemicals are dopamine and serotonin. but "chemicals" are merely the "enablers" for sensation, not the final cause. a depressed person still desires joy, despite not being able to function. likewise, this chemical allows one to have empathy but judgment still has to be passed in the intellect prior acting. in judgement lies the final cause.
Mellamosean - if the cause for being a psycopath (and I have not researched this at all) is chemical hence the rehabilitation can include chemicals... No need to flush anyone down the tiolet - we can easily rehabilitate. I don't think that is what Paul Zak was saying - he spoke of psycopathic-like behavior. Tehre are many parameters to the mind of a psycopath.
"Of course if you don't like to touch people, I can always shove this up your nose." Quite convincing. On youtube, we have an option: we can write comments and replies designed to be insulting, or we can write comments that won't cause bitterness. And think the second is the better option, though I admit I've often been guilty of the 1st. Sometimes I feel like I have to tell people how dumb I think they are, but that's really not productive or helpful. I'll try to work more on that...
I think this is a great idea and the anger here is surprising. empathy is what makes humans 'human'. and this is oxytocin. no oxytocin, no morality. Adam Smith is a moral philosopher argues humans will do the right thing given freedom. the market will be guided by the invisible hand-'oxytocin' however, capitalism is immoral and Smith understood capitalism should not rule society. we are moral, we feel love and pain with others.
well 8 hugs would translate into the highest oxytocin release. Anything more, and irritation begins to occur. "This person smells!" stuff like that. This is science.
I think that the biggest release of oxytocin is definitely those moments right after making love with someone you are attracted to. It doesn't seem to work with masturbation or mercy fucking.......seanallenmccoy
Well it's likely considerably higher with someone you care about or are attracted to you, but I think there is oxytocin release at the same time as orgasm
I wonder how many people will go off and buy a bottle of oxytocin now. I googled "oxytocin" to learn more after watching this - unexpectedly I found a lot of adverts for oxytocin nasal spray!
Interesting research, but calling oxytocin the moral molecule is a bit disingenuous... Actions A, B and C may release oxytocin, but our decision about wether it is right or noble to perform those actions or inhibit them can not be related to the product oxytocin. It may explain how we become slightly more generous, but not why we hold generosity in high regard.
@aadrian13 It basically helps us cooperate so we can survive. If a person's oxytocin system is well-developed, they'll be more likely to be caring and giving individuals. By the experiments in this video, it looks like it makes a fairly significant difference in a person's generosity level. I agree, it will definitely not inhibit our reason of why someone values generosity, but I think instead, it will make someone value it through the rewards and feelings of giving.
Reducing morality to cooperation, survival or feeding some internal reward system can only explain some very basic human behaviour, but not our notions of what is right and wrong.
@esca8652 Reducing morality to cooperation, survival or feeding some internal reward system can only explain some very basic human behaviour, but not our notions of what is right and wrong.
@aadrian13 it seems like the decision to make "the right moral" choice may come from previous experiences i.e. brain chemistry/neural pathways reinforced by the reward from a previous 'analogous' interaction.
Moral dilemmas may arise from the fact that there is no strong oxytocin induced neural pathways and no way to establish it because of its subjective nature and maybe that's why makes us think harder.
@aadrian13 Actually it explains the current physical reason for generosity in high regard, i.e. the "moral molecule" being released. However, from a slightly more complicated thought it does not explain for what reason this is started ocurring etc. I think that will come from evolutionary biology, but currently we work with what we've got.
I love this video. Everything just makes sense. It is so true that when you are feeling ramped up on testosterone, your emotional connection with others is down. I find it interesting that testosterone and oxytocin are opposite (in effect) to each other.
He talks about Moral and Immoral. What about Amoral?
As an amoral person i view all moral problems as optimization problems, and solve them with my personal "code of conduct" and weighted values. In general i'm honest and follow "tit for two tats" unless there is a good reason not to do so. I also follow the formal ethical guidlines of the context i'm in, again, unless there is a good reason not to do so.
As i have a concience, i have determined i'm not a sociopath, but i may have low oxotocin.
@thecaringatheist there is a clear distinction between a-moral and immoral. A-moral is without moral (or rejection of the concept), while immoral is doing the opposite of what is moral.
@gulllars So do you agree that a man killing a man that has a "demon inside him" or a woman that is a "witch" are moral? i mean its clear in their society and time it was the moral thing to do
@alexander33345 what you are referencing is similar to some of the reflection i did before defining myself as amoral. It also makes it easier not to be apologetic about being a-moral or a-theist. (i'm also a-social (not anti-social, which is a disorder)).
And to answer, yes, what is moraly correct depends on culture and time. I reject morals in my own life and use applied ethics and game theory based on my values i've arrived at after reflection.
In reality, it's not the moral thing to do, because they were acting on false information. There is sometimes (probably often) a disconnect between intent and result. I think if we start labeling actions that have negative consequences as "moral" we're going to create confusion.
@mellamosean well, the moral situation you referenced (killing a witch or deamon possessed person) is not very applicable today. Let's instead take killing a person like a druglord that has killed several people himself, and is likely to kill or have many more ordered dead or destroy lives enforcing his territory.
I do not see this as a moral dilemma, but rather an optimization problem. Stopping his _willfully destructive_ actions is prefferential to not, even by taking his life.
I agree that that is preferential, but what do you mean optimization problem? Do you mean killing the druglord is the decision that optimizes pleasure and diminishes suffering? This is essentially the position of a utilitarian, is it not?
Yes, the position is utilitarian in essence. The druglord is not only doing harm to others, but others are also being done harm to as long as he's not stopped. By not stopping him you allow others to be harmed, and their rights (from the Social Contract of citizenship) are violated. The negative of ending the life, is outweighed by the positive reduction in suffering and rights violations.
Well there is a huge spectrum from the most empathetic and caring people to the most sociopathic people. So you probably fall somewhere in between average and sociopathic. Of course, that's a vague statement, because half the population fall in that area, but I certainly can't judge you.
@mellamosean i fall pretty close to the sociopathic line, but again, to cross it into the definition area is the lack of a concience. I have one, and it's working :)
As you may have guessed, i'm an analytical person. Most people who know me concider me an über-geek. I value critical thinking, pseudo-hedonistic ethics (reduction of pain and suffering, and increasing pleassure and comfort _for everybody_), efficiency, and order.
I'm glad you (and most others) don't judge me for it :)
@mellamosean hedonism says (net) pleassure is the only intrinsic good. (pleassure minus pain). Traditionally this is viewed egoistic, where people maximize this for themselves.
I consider myself a pseudo-hedonist, as i agree net pleassure _for everybody_ is good, but that this is not the only good value. I value my own net pleassure above others, but not exclusively, and with relation to the distance to me, but NOT ending at zero for people i never have or will meet. I give charity
This is the most common moral position that people have, whether they admit it or not. I find it strange that you consider yourself amoral. Can you explain that?
I find it strange that you consider yourself "amoral"
@mellamosean i reject the notion of moral, as it's culture-based dogmatic superficial rules for solving complex problems. To me this seems like a suspension of critical thinking, and i think following morals blindly is irresponsible.
I also consider myself atheist as i reject the claim of God's existence, from a lack of proof compared to the importance of the claim. I don't make the claim "god does not exist", but i have no credible reason to accept such an entity exists.
Ok. I'm an atheist as well, and though i don't describe myself as amoral, I know what you are saying. If I say I try to be a moral person, what i mean is I try to stick to my own moral code, which is more or less like the one you described for yourself. I do my best to weed out irrational cultural dogma, but I'd probably be naive to think I'm not influenced at all by it... Perhaps morality isn't the best word to use because that one has been ruined by religion & ignorance in general.
I have a moral code, and it's not black and white, and I rethink it all the time. I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to moralistic thinking, so clearly having a moral code does not imply that I don't think. You appear to be criticizing dogmatic, hand-me-down moral codes. I don't subscribe to any of those.
@gulllars Why is having morals a "culture-based dogmatic superficial rule for solving complex problems"? Also, at no point does he explicitly state that you should blindly follow morals.
P.S. Atheism is the belief that a "God" does not exist. Agnosticism is the belief that no conclusive evidence has been found that proves or disproves the existence of a "God". Now you know :)
well if he's correct sociopath behavior is hardwired chemicals cemented for life, we don't need psychcologists to tell us any different with prisoners, so if we cant change em lets flush em down the toilet. ( so they don't take away resources from elderly and children. )
Having a laugh with someone whilst standing in a queue, whose name you don't even know, or see the exhilarated look of surprise and appreciation on a stranger's face when you go out of your way to help them with something, is a great feeling. It is like a drug effect.
if I remember correctly, the guy was given some sort of poison during footage of violent crimes that caused him pain. The idea was that he would feel the pain if he ever thought of committing such crimes... Now that I think of it, the premise seems illogical...
So long as this guy isn't just drugging our problems away in rituals, he's doing a great job. Sometimes things can be counter-intuative to our cultural upbringing, so whilst the marriage he found had oxytocin on the day it isn't always so.
So long as Christianity/ideology doesn't get in the way of objectivity.
@nnnnnAZ09 your subconscious might not know the diff. Sometimes just a little tactile contact will trigger connection chemicals... kind of like the phrase "fake it to make it"
@Those Some people cal them self kings and queens and they assume know best what is right ore wrong and apply their violent powerful will to others. Wealthiest always right and that's how we get pyramid of power. Right ore wrong exist only with violence on others.
@ThoseGamerguyz Morality and sex aren't really connected. We care about our own interpersonal relations at the instinctual level. The overriding connection between sex and morality is a societal more that is passed on through the generations... it has no basis in fact or biology.
fantastic!!! what would be interesting though is to see if people release oxytocin to different stimulus, like masochistic maybe get it when they feel pain. If they dont and the releasing of the molecule is consistent amongst all humans then it would be a great step forward to creating a Universal Human Values which is determined by science :)
another issue is while oxytocin may enhance empathy, empathy does not necessarily entail morality--just like motive doesn't necessarily entail action. just because I can share the well-being of another doesn't compel me to care--though it may increase the likelihood--which makes it seem as if morality is still yet an abstract organic process.
how does oxytocin account for moral plurality? the propensities for social cultures to eventually converge and adhere to moral principles may be the same, but "what is deemed moral" still differs per culture aside from some universal moral principles.
it seems oxytocin at best is either a bio-social enabler or social-evolutionary residue from conscious interaction.
Oh wow, All i can think of is the Religious nutjob fundamentals who trash science and claim "Where does Morality come from?? what is the morality molecule??" LOL theres your answer =D
that was such a shitty hug. like an opportunist/capitalist/time-efficient hug. so tired of symmetrical, strict empirical methodology. too much science not enough spiritual, asymmetrical natural order.
I can hear the religious right and spiritual peddlers quaking in their boots. As stated by the speaker: "We don't need God or government telling us what to do. It's all inside of us."
Further evidenced by Adam Smith's claim that, "We are moral creatures not because of a top down reason but for a bottom up reason,"
I think we can put the religious magic books down and start treating one another the way we would like to be treated. Let go, and let Oxytocin. The world wil be a way nicer place.
This could be a cute for depression am I right?
delatorre5827 2 days ago
haha this was awesome
zirbat16 3 days ago
I want this video on my S5200 unit.
pasqualebrow1230 1 month ago
This is daft. In reality, it is merely the ages old argument whether or not we have free will. "Oh, my brain made me do it". Laughable.
daddyslackful 1 month ago
@daddyslackful 6:35 "...all without altering mood or cognition." From wikipedia: Cognition.
"In science, cognition refers to mental processes. These processes include attention, remembering, producing and understanding language, solving problems, and making decisions."
Nothing in his experiments then demonstrated that oxytocin was "making" people give money or be more trusting -- rather the influx of oxytocin was correlated with increased rates of "trust." Posit: Trust became more rewarding.
Emptused 1 month ago
This guy is awesome. But I dont think we should just hand this out like candy.
Jeffersonwazright 1 month ago
@Jeffersonwazright I'm sorry if I don't understand your point, but are you trying to say that Happiness isn't something that we should distribute freely? If so... -__- wat.
Vagitarian01 2 weeks ago
@Vagitarian01 Correct. We have untrustworthy feelings for a reason. It is estimated that 4% of people are what we call "sociopaths" and our alarms need to go off when they are around. I am anti-war and pro-peace and pro-love and all of that utopian stuff but I don't think we should go changing our brain chemistry at any given moment.
Jeffersonwazright 2 weeks ago
@Jeffersonwazright I'm not sure what to consider myself... I am neither pro-war or pro-peace, in a general sense. I believe both have their merits. While I can fantasize with you on Utopia, I believe that such a reality will never come to pass. We're better off wishing for a world free of disease, or of hunger. Those things are lower on the wishlist than Peace, but are also, foolhardy goals. Good luck granting any of those wishes.
Vagitarian01 2 weeks ago
Oxytocin also promotes ethnocentrism. People are less trusting, less cohesive and less altruistic in more diverse cities. See Robert Putnam's studies on this. Mass immigration is a very bad idea.
In Japan they don't even lock up their bikes and stuff, people trust the society and feel invested in it. The US and Europe used to be more like that before unpopular mass immigration was thrust upon the population by a political elite. Who promised not to change the ethnic balance of our countries.
AarontheCurious 1 month ago
@AarontheCurious Ethnic groups do not steal bikes....poor people do. Your comment is silly and absurd. While I agree that they need to quit bringing foreign people in here and expecting it to work out great, your comment is absurd as a response to this particular video.
Jeffersonwazright 1 month ago
This vid is popular on Tashkent
giftbasketer2 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Homosexual activists understand the power of words.
Please visit my channel to watch a one-minute video clip in which popular atheist author Richard Dawkins admits that homosexual activists "hijacked the word 'gay'".
The word "homosexual" is more appropriate and accurate because it, unlike the word "gay", actually describes the behavior/attraction/relationship being discussed.
The word "gay" helps homosexual activists push their agenda.
lightandbeautiful 1 month ago
@Productman12
Your right. ( :
CheddarBob39 1 month ago
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CheddarBob39 1 month ago
I don't know if I agree that more oxytocin makes one more of less moral. I think there are a variety of factors that contribute to morality of which overall feelings of happiness or wellbeing are one. A person who believes his life or the life of his family is in danger or is afraid of losing their home may behave in an immoral way.
More oxytocin = greater degree of intimacy/physical contact between people = greater feelings of happiness. Generally that a happy person tries to be a moral one.
londonmediawhore 1 month ago
Let's start giving out hugs!
orangepeelpeel 2 months ago
Great new rule all rulers in the world needs to get Oxycontin subscription administered by a external group not influenced by the government
shintsu01 2 months ago
I love it!
funkydudey 2 months ago
Lets drop Oxycontin bombs on the world! Especially those who are rich and/or oppress the populations.
leonhardjason 2 months ago
I've loved it!
Arghira 2 months ago
I'm wondering where my testosterone is at. I have very high empathy and I am very generous but I also feel inclined to punish those who trespass others and I have very masculine features. Hmmmm...
DrSpooglemon 2 months ago
@DrSpooglemon in your scrotum, like veryone else.
Kaeralho 2 months ago
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CheddarBob39 2 months ago
chemicals are the mere "material" cause for being able to act. other chemicals exist, when released, physical affection and laughter are experienced. these chemicals are dopamine and serotonin. but "chemicals" are merely the "enablers" for sensation, not the final cause. a depressed person still desires joy, despite not being able to function. likewise, this chemical allows one to have empathy but judgment still has to be passed in the intellect prior acting. in judgement lies the final cause.
Beb2984 3 months ago
Excellent presentation!
amimanojit 3 months ago
Mellamosean - if the cause for being a psycopath (and I have not researched this at all) is chemical hence the rehabilitation can include chemicals... No need to flush anyone down the tiolet - we can easily rehabilitate. I don't think that is what Paul Zak was saying - he spoke of psycopathic-like behavior. Tehre are many parameters to the mind of a psycopath.
sharonetucker 3 months ago
"Of course if you don't like to touch people, I can always shove this up your nose." Quite convincing. On youtube, we have an option: we can write comments and replies designed to be insulting, or we can write comments that won't cause bitterness. And think the second is the better option, though I admit I've often been guilty of the 1st. Sometimes I feel like I have to tell people how dumb I think they are, but that's really not productive or helpful. I'll try to work more on that...
mellamosean 3 months ago
I feel like there should be the word empathy in the title.
miloibrado 3 months ago
@miloibrado
I feel you are right.
mellamosean 3 months ago
So praying releases oxytocin, wich makes you trust strangers and give them your money. It makes sense.
salahhe 3 months ago 36
@ 12:15 "We don't need God or government telling us what to do, it's all inside of us... "
Hmmmm.... "we don't need a computer programmer telling the computer what to do, because it's all inside of it..."
cgktuber 3 months ago
@cgktuber
I don't think it was an atheistic argument, relax.
mellamosean 3 months ago
eight hugs a day? Ill start tomorrow, and so will you! :)
AxeHomeless 3 months ago
let's put oxytocin in the food.
TheChrisMedico 3 months ago 11
@TheChrisMedico
I don't know about you, but I'm sticking oxycotin in my food.
mellamosean 3 months ago
@TheChrisMedico you should watch serenity ( the movie )
helmus2000 1 month ago
I haven't hugged anyone in like 4 years... is that why I'm so depressed?!?!?
AlmoTrademark 3 months ago
@AlmoTrademark
that's what trees are for.
mellamosean 3 months ago
This is the first talk where the Ted gingle didn't try to make me deaf! I love it!
salahhe 3 months ago
Ha, I thought this was titled Trust, morality, and oxycottin
jollyZOLLIE 3 months ago in playlist More videos from TEDtalksDirector
Great talk ! I do tend to leave a bigger tip if I had a great day.
But does excess oxytocin induce gullibility too ? Will I irrationally give money to someone untrustworthy if I just had sex ?
test123ok 3 months ago
@test123ok
well I think his story about being conned was his way of suggesting that that is the case.
mellamosean 3 months ago
His voice is godly.
dogluver92 3 months ago
Paul Zak needs Tony Robbins to teach him how to catch the crowd's attention using EMOTION. Great topic, monotone lecture.
eclipzbvt23 3 months ago
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eclipzbvt23 3 months ago
I think this is a great idea and the anger here is surprising. empathy is what makes humans 'human'. and this is oxytocin. no oxytocin, no morality. Adam Smith is a moral philosopher argues humans will do the right thing given freedom. the market will be guided by the invisible hand-'oxytocin' however, capitalism is immoral and Smith understood capitalism should not rule society. we are moral, we feel love and pain with others.
phuowens 3 months ago
I think all this guy wants is to fuck more pussy! Nice one Dr Love!
Setherian 3 months ago
so what's with the 8 hugs a day? why not 6? what is the effect? :)
superdiza 3 months ago
@superdiza
well 8 hugs would translate into the highest oxytocin release. Anything more, and irritation begins to occur. "This person smells!" stuff like that. This is science.
mellamosean 3 months ago
@mellamosean cool. i do wonder about sample of the experiment.
superdiza 3 months ago
Anyone else come from the BSN to watch this?
Josh123914 3 months ago
Wonderful speech! I am watching it over and over again... Maybe it's my oxytocin. :-)
tubinginnow 3 months ago
I think that the biggest release of oxytocin is definitely those moments right after making love with someone you are attracted to. It doesn't seem to work with masturbation or mercy fucking.......seanallenmccoy
seanallenmccoy 3 months ago
@seanallenmccoy
Well it's likely considerably higher with someone you care about or are attracted to you, but I think there is oxytocin release at the same time as orgasm
mellamosean 3 months ago
4 years ago, i got awarded "most friendliest" in high school and i said "just follow the 8 hugs a day rule".
i should get credit for this... lol
MsLakerfan8 3 months ago
Keta te lojturit do e kthejne boten permbys BASHKE ME ATA QE E DEGJOJNE...:D Fucking idiot.
MilfGanker 3 months ago
Touching research.
bentothetenthpower 3 months ago
At first I thought it was titled "Trust, morality - and oxycontin". Oops.
earthpet 3 months ago
After watching this, "Morality comes from God, from the Bible, the ten commandments, herp-derp!", sounds even more stupid than it already did.
MarkArandjus 3 months ago
them bastards
jfatsnorlax 3 months ago
I wonder how many people will go off and buy a bottle of oxytocin now. I googled "oxytocin" to learn more after watching this - unexpectedly I found a lot of adverts for oxytocin nasal spray!
thewildplaces 3 months ago
Interesting research, but calling oxytocin the moral molecule is a bit disingenuous... Actions A, B and C may release oxytocin, but our decision about wether it is right or noble to perform those actions or inhibit them can not be related to the product oxytocin. It may explain how we become slightly more generous, but not why we hold generosity in high regard.
aadrian13 3 months ago 27
@aadrian13 It basically helps us cooperate so we can survive. If a person's oxytocin system is well-developed, they'll be more likely to be caring and giving individuals. By the experiments in this video, it looks like it makes a fairly significant difference in a person's generosity level. I agree, it will definitely not inhibit our reason of why someone values generosity, but I think instead, it will make someone value it through the rewards and feelings of giving.
esca8652 3 months ago in playlist Liked
Reducing morality to cooperation, survival or feeding some internal reward system can only explain some very basic human behaviour, but not our notions of what is right and wrong.
aadrian13 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@esca8652 Reducing morality to cooperation, survival or feeding some internal reward system can only explain some very basic human behaviour, but not our notions of what is right and wrong.
aadrian13 3 months ago
@aadrian13 I do wonder if sex-slaves release oxy, when penetrated. research that, hollier than thou
superdiza 3 months ago
@aadrian13 it seems like the decision to make "the right moral" choice may come from previous experiences i.e. brain chemistry/neural pathways reinforced by the reward from a previous 'analogous' interaction.
Moral dilemmas may arise from the fact that there is no strong oxytocin induced neural pathways and no way to establish it because of its subjective nature and maybe that's why makes us think harder.
test123ok 3 months ago
@aadrian13 Actually it explains the current physical reason for generosity in high regard, i.e. the "moral molecule" being released. However, from a slightly more complicated thought it does not explain for what reason this is started ocurring etc. I think that will come from evolutionary biology, but currently we work with what we've got.
TheAtheologian 3 months ago
@TheAtheologian
Well evolutionary biologists and psychologists do offer some potential answers.
mellamosean 3 months ago
@mellamosean Exactly, the thing is what psychologists bring is not a conflicting answer to what Paul Zak brings.
TheAtheologian 3 months ago
he didnt mention the new husband's lvls. probably cuz marriage scares the hell out of most men.
BDarbon1 3 months ago
@BDarbon1
no, he did. He had the 4th highest levels, behind his new wife and her parents.
mellamosean 3 months ago
00:15
JediDave44 3 months ago
In the full video (Amazon) Iceberg Slim explains the conman's Pigeon Drop
/watch?v=GzTEJWr27NY
gusphraba 3 months ago
So praying raises oxytocin and that causes me to give money? Not sure if that’s moral but it’s what happens every Sunday.
gusphraba 3 months ago
I love this video. Everything just makes sense. It is so true that when you are feeling ramped up on testosterone, your emotional connection with others is down. I find it interesting that testosterone and oxytocin are opposite (in effect) to each other.
esca8652 3 months ago
I want a hug :( I want more oxytocin!
ashliebelle 3 months ago 2
@ashliebelle
uh oh. you sound like an addict...
mellamosean 3 months ago
@TheFartoholic "hes too nice. I cant fucking stand it" hes been doing do much oxy!
mikeisapro 3 months ago
i would guess that american society reduces the half-life of oxytocin by a huge amount.
IntuitiveLeap 3 months ago
@IntuitiveLeap Maybe if there was a cascade of other chemicals interrupting and watering down the effect of oxytocin.
esca8652 3 months ago
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IntuitiveLeap 3 months ago
He should study people having pets. Bet interaction with pets helps increase oxytocin.
GreatG0dOm 3 months ago
If Glenn Beck saw this video, he'd call Paul Zak hitler for putting in use of the word Empathy
Th3Sh1n1gam1 3 months ago
awesome, love it
ChicCreekgirl 3 months ago
"Anti-Social Personality Disorder", which is not what it sounds like as the person can be VERY social - read the definition.
thedavecorp 3 months ago
@thedavecorp
similar characteristics as a psychopath or sociopath, correct? Just a lesser degree, I believe.
mellamosean 3 months ago
oxytocin and the brain are so much more complex than this.
justinwhatley1 3 months ago
Interesting talk about molecular interactions forming societal changes
insme 3 months ago
this guy is too good
amoonavidtanha 3 months ago
This guy is oblivious to shame.
tdreamgmail 3 months ago
30 people don't like hugging
ManuL2444 3 months ago
He talks about Moral and Immoral. What about Amoral?
As an amoral person i view all moral problems as optimization problems, and solve them with my personal "code of conduct" and weighted values. In general i'm honest and follow "tit for two tats" unless there is a good reason not to do so. I also follow the formal ethical guidlines of the context i'm in, again, unless there is a good reason not to do so.
As i have a concience, i have determined i'm not a sociopath, but i may have low oxotocin.
gulllars 3 months ago
@gulllars Could be just a difference in terminology coupled with a more conscoius approach to lifes litte twists and turns.
thecaringatheist 3 months ago
@thecaringatheist there is a clear distinction between a-moral and immoral. A-moral is without moral (or rejection of the concept), while immoral is doing the opposite of what is moral.
Or were you talking about something else.
gulllars 3 months ago
@gulllars So do you agree that a man killing a man that has a "demon inside him" or a woman that is a "witch" are moral? i mean its clear in their society and time it was the moral thing to do
alexander33345 3 months ago
@alexander33345 what you are referencing is similar to some of the reflection i did before defining myself as amoral. It also makes it easier not to be apologetic about being a-moral or a-theist. (i'm also a-social (not anti-social, which is a disorder)).
And to answer, yes, what is moraly correct depends on culture and time. I reject morals in my own life and use applied ethics and game theory based on my values i've arrived at after reflection.
gulllars 3 months ago
@alexander33345
In reality, it's not the moral thing to do, because they were acting on false information. There is sometimes (probably often) a disconnect between intent and result. I think if we start labeling actions that have negative consequences as "moral" we're going to create confusion.
mellamosean 3 months ago
@mellamosean well, the moral situation you referenced (killing a witch or deamon possessed person) is not very applicable today. Let's instead take killing a person like a druglord that has killed several people himself, and is likely to kill or have many more ordered dead or destroy lives enforcing his territory.
I do not see this as a moral dilemma, but rather an optimization problem. Stopping his _willfully destructive_ actions is prefferential to not, even by taking his life.
gulllars 3 months ago
@gulllars
I agree that that is preferential, but what do you mean optimization problem? Do you mean killing the druglord is the decision that optimizes pleasure and diminishes suffering? This is essentially the position of a utilitarian, is it not?
mellamosean 3 months ago
@mellamosean re: the moral of killing druglord.
Yes, the position is utilitarian in essence. The druglord is not only doing harm to others, but others are also being done harm to as long as he's not stopped. By not stopping him you allow others to be harmed, and their rights (from the Social Contract of citizenship) are violated. The negative of ending the life, is outweighed by the positive reduction in suffering and rights violations.
gulllars 3 months ago
@gulllars
Well there is a huge spectrum from the most empathetic and caring people to the most sociopathic people. So you probably fall somewhere in between average and sociopathic. Of course, that's a vague statement, because half the population fall in that area, but I certainly can't judge you.
mellamosean 3 months ago
@mellamosean i fall pretty close to the sociopathic line, but again, to cross it into the definition area is the lack of a concience. I have one, and it's working :)
As you may have guessed, i'm an analytical person. Most people who know me concider me an über-geek. I value critical thinking, pseudo-hedonistic ethics (reduction of pain and suffering, and increasing pleassure and comfort _for everybody_), efficiency, and order.
I'm glad you (and most others) don't judge me for it :)
gulllars 3 months ago
@gulllars
what do you mean by "pseudo-hedonistic?"
mellamosean 3 months ago
@mellamosean hedonism says (net) pleassure is the only intrinsic good. (pleassure minus pain). Traditionally this is viewed egoistic, where people maximize this for themselves.
I consider myself a pseudo-hedonist, as i agree net pleassure _for everybody_ is good, but that this is not the only good value. I value my own net pleassure above others, but not exclusively, and with relation to the distance to me, but NOT ending at zero for people i never have or will meet. I give charity
gulllars 3 months ago
@gulllars
This is the most common moral position that people have, whether they admit it or not. I find it strange that you consider yourself amoral. Can you explain that?
I find it strange that you consider yourself "amoral"
mellamosean 3 months ago
@mellamosean i reject the notion of moral, as it's culture-based dogmatic superficial rules for solving complex problems. To me this seems like a suspension of critical thinking, and i think following morals blindly is irresponsible.
I also consider myself atheist as i reject the claim of God's existence, from a lack of proof compared to the importance of the claim. I don't make the claim "god does not exist", but i have no credible reason to accept such an entity exists.
gulllars 3 months ago
@gulllars
Ok. I'm an atheist as well, and though i don't describe myself as amoral, I know what you are saying. If I say I try to be a moral person, what i mean is I try to stick to my own moral code, which is more or less like the one you described for yourself. I do my best to weed out irrational cultural dogma, but I'd probably be naive to think I'm not influenced at all by it... Perhaps morality isn't the best word to use because that one has been ruined by religion & ignorance in general.
mellamosean 3 months ago 2
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CheddarBob39 2 months ago
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CheddarBob39 2 months ago
@CheddarBob39
I have a moral code, and it's not black and white, and I rethink it all the time. I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to moralistic thinking, so clearly having a moral code does not imply that I don't think. You appear to be criticizing dogmatic, hand-me-down moral codes. I don't subscribe to any of those.
mellamosean 2 months ago
@gulllars Why is having morals a "culture-based dogmatic superficial rule for solving complex problems"? Also, at no point does he explicitly state that you should blindly follow morals.
P.S. Atheism is the belief that a "God" does not exist. Agnosticism is the belief that no conclusive evidence has been found that proves or disproves the existence of a "God". Now you know :)
Adamthebananas 2 months ago
@gulllars
i mean, the way you've described yourself is how most people (who haven't been confused by religion) use morality to guide their decision making.
mellamosean 3 months ago
Does this mean , we can save billions of dollars by removing psychologists from prisons and resarting the electric chair. ?
uralusr 3 months ago
@uralusr
uhhh, what?
mellamosean 3 months ago
@mellamosean
well if he's correct sociopath behavior is hardwired chemicals cemented for life, we don't need psychcologists to tell us any different with prisoners, so if we cant change em lets flush em down the toilet. ( so they don't take away resources from elderly and children. )
uralusr 3 months ago
we have a biology of trustworthiness. fascinating stuff.
batalvitrinidad 3 months ago
this totally explains why 1% of population are fat cats
brod2man 3 months ago
Ohhh lord I learned about this YEARS ago. Brings back memories...It's a fun little subject to study, if you're going into psychology :D
LichQueenKathie 3 months ago
Which Winklevoss is this again?
iamthe3rd 3 months ago
He said his nickname was "Dr. Love" I'm going to use that for my R&B name.
thatKyleperson 3 months ago
@thatKyleperson
Everybody knows that Gene Simmons is Dr. Love.
mellamosean 3 months ago
I like the part where the guy got a pearl necklace in the mens bathroom
Cha4k 3 months ago 2
Having a laugh with someone whilst standing in a queue, whose name you don't even know, or see the exhilarated look of surprise and appreciation on a stranger's face when you go out of your way to help them with something, is a great feeling. It is like a drug effect.
Rarae192 3 months ago
So is oxytocin the stuff they injected into that Clockwork Orange guy? lol
TonyGT37 3 months ago in playlist More videos from TEDtalksDirector 2
@TonyGT37
if I remember correctly, the guy was given some sort of poison during footage of violent crimes that caused him pain. The idea was that he would feel the pain if he ever thought of committing such crimes... Now that I think of it, the premise seems illogical...
mellamosean 3 months ago
Fucking amazing :)
I love science. I love reasons.
Myking55 3 months ago
So long as this guy isn't just drugging our problems away in rituals, he's doing a great job. Sometimes things can be counter-intuative to our cultural upbringing, so whilst the marriage he found had oxytocin on the day it isn't always so.
So long as Christianity/ideology doesn't get in the way of objectivity.
DanteAlucardAluxes 3 months ago
I wanna buy oxytocin. so i can trick people to give me money. a fucking breakthrough XD
doublebasel 3 months ago
he just spread my morality all over the floor
haigfeinn 3 months ago
Kittens, puppies and babies help too!
Muhtadin 3 months ago
hugs isn't love, its just an action.
It is the way you do something that shows
if there love in it or not.
nnnnnAZ09 3 months ago
@nnnnnAZ09 your subconscious might not know the diff. Sometimes just a little tactile contact will trigger connection chemicals... kind of like the phrase "fake it to make it"
oxygon 3 months ago
*Hugs* : )
nicestarsystem 3 months ago
amazing!
sh00008 3 months ago
This audience is dead. Paul Zak is making some good jokes and I hear crickets chirping WTF.
theorganichispanic 3 months ago 12
I get it, money is imaginary and people are real (?)
sylve6 3 months ago
@sylve6
who said that?
mellamosean 3 months ago
i wanna know where do we get the morality of sex?seriously why do we care so much?
ThoseGamerguyz 3 months ago
@Those Some people cal them self kings and queens and they assume know best what is right ore wrong and apply their violent powerful will to others. Wealthiest always right and that's how we get pyramid of power. Right ore wrong exist only with violence on others.
sylve6 3 months ago
@ThoseGamerguyz Morality and sex aren't really connected. We care about our own interpersonal relations at the instinctual level. The overriding connection between sex and morality is a societal more that is passed on through the generations... it has no basis in fact or biology.
MoriyaMug 3 months ago
@ThoseGamerguyz there is no morality if I ask to suck my cock for $20 is immoral, but for $100 000 you get a line wait in the queue.
sylve6 3 months ago
@sylve6 lol what?
ThoseGamerguyz 3 months ago
@ThoseGamerguyz lol what ? what?
sylve6 3 months ago
Every politician should be forced to take regular doses of oxytocin. = world peace.
UnhonorableMentions 3 months ago
reminds me why i subscribed to TED, love it :)
tespunishertes 3 months ago
fantastic!!! what would be interesting though is to see if people release oxytocin to different stimulus, like masochistic maybe get it when they feel pain. If they dont and the releasing of the molecule is consistent amongst all humans then it would be a great step forward to creating a Universal Human Values which is determined by science :)
zerr0ww 3 months ago
another issue is while oxytocin may enhance empathy, empathy does not necessarily entail morality--just like motive doesn't necessarily entail action. just because I can share the well-being of another doesn't compel me to care--though it may increase the likelihood--which makes it seem as if morality is still yet an abstract organic process.
xjustamem0ryx 3 months ago
profoundly brilliant!
LittleBabyBum 3 months ago
how does oxytocin account for moral plurality? the propensities for social cultures to eventually converge and adhere to moral principles may be the same, but "what is deemed moral" still differs per culture aside from some universal moral principles.
it seems oxytocin at best is either a bio-social enabler or social-evolutionary residue from conscious interaction.
xjustamem0ryx 3 months ago 3
good researcher and a good showman !
yourtube20061 3 months ago
His sincerity and determination to research raises my oxytocin :)
Bracerjack 3 months ago 49
@Bracerjack Stop! That's gay.
Jakyle1 3 months ago
@Bracerjack reading your comment spiked mine, I believe...empathy is powerful...
ThElitE 3 months ago
@ThElitE
awwwwww
Thanks :)
Bracerjack 3 months ago
Oh wow, All i can think of is the Religious nutjob fundamentals who trash science and claim "Where does Morality come from?? what is the morality molecule??" LOL theres your answer =D
K4kaShiii 3 months ago
that was such a shitty hug. like an opportunist/capitalist/time-efficient hug. so tired of symmetrical, strict empirical methodology. too much science not enough spiritual, asymmetrical natural order.
thasupremeoverlord 3 months ago
so tired of symmetrical, strict empirical methodology. too much science not enough spiritual, asymmetrical natural order.
thasupremeoverlord 3 months ago
I can hear the religious right and spiritual peddlers quaking in their boots. As stated by the speaker: "We don't need God or government telling us what to do. It's all inside of us."
Further evidenced by Adam Smith's claim that, "We are moral creatures not because of a top down reason but for a bottom up reason,"
I think we can put the religious magic books down and start treating one another the way we would like to be treated. Let go, and let Oxytocin. The world wil be a way nicer place.
Fractalesque 3 months ago
This sounds good but seems like the experiment was heavily flawed...
ChadMaestrodotcom 3 months ago 3